Romans 12:16
“Live in harmony with one another.
Do not be haughty, but associate with
the lowly.
Never be wise in your own sight.”
Harmony, it seems like a pretty word
and I don't know the root of it. I would think of harmony in music,
or to harmonize. Live in harmony, let the sounds of your lives
harmonize together, complementing one another and making a beautiful
sound. In a sense, so interact with your brothers and sisters in
Christ that your lives become a song of worship that others love to
listen to, that indeed it is hard for them to pull their attention
away from, and that inspires them to join the song.
To make music together requires
sacrifice, you have to sing in one key. You have have to sing the
same notes. It's not jazz, it's not random, you have to submit your
passions to the script of music. you can't go off and do your own
thing it's not a solo. That being said there will be times when it's
more a spontaneous jam session, times where everyone will be allowed
to sing loudly and full of exuberant joy.
Live in harmony with one another, make
music to the Lord with how you live. That being said there are a few
things we are instructed to do that will help us stay on key.
“Do not be haughty” Don't be proud
and arrogant. It's easy to form clicks in general, that is human
nature. However it is pretty sad that in church settings we can in a
sense have the popular crowd, sadder yet is if we look down on people
not in our group. There can be groups with pious pride, who wear all
the christian designer clothes, watch the newest christian movies,
but never seem to talk with anyone outside their group. Who only ever
seem to talk with those who share similar interest and hobbies. Am I
saying, enjoying christian movies or branded clothes or music is bad?
no, “but associate with the lowly.” Simply beware of only
gravitating towards those like yourself, and make sure to associate
with the quiet people, the ones that may look a bit odd. They may be
different but that's good, God likes to use relationships with those
different from us to shape and grow our character.
“Never be wise in your own sight.”
When I use my own wisdom, things do not go very well. I usually end
up hurting someone or being hurt. I love that this sentence starts
with the word Never. It makes things much more simple. How awful
would it be if it said sometimes. I would be left trying to figure
out when to use God's wisdom instead of my own. How much heartache
I'd have to go through. This instruction also falls in with not being
haughty or proud. Everyone naturally does what they think is best in
their own sight. The problem is our sight is rather limited. There is
only one who can see clearly and infinitely, that is God. So be wise
in His sight. But if after knowing God's will we choose what we think
is best, that is ultimate foolishness and pride. What could be more
proud than thinking you know better than God? And what could be more
foolish since God wants what is best for all involved? So never be
wise in your own sight.
Application
Live in such a way my life compliments
my brothers and sisters in Christ.
How?
Tomorrow I will look for ways to
compliment my class mates.
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